Perspectives from a Precipice
November 16, 2021
By: Andy Myers
In early October, I had the privilege to visit El Paso, Texas for an intensive border experience. The two days were full of unique juxtapositions between worlds, and yet these worlds are closer to each other than some would have us believe.
El Paso, Texas, and Juarez, Mexico, together create the largest bi-national city and region in the world. Historically, the delineation was not such a militarized barrier but an area of opportunity that allowed for shared labor, business and relationships across this region.
On our first night after dinner, we drove up a mountain to an overlook that showed the vast expanse of the region. What struck me most, from hundreds of feet above, were the millions of lights across this metroplex that showed no distinct boundary. We all knew that the barriers, fencing and checkpoints were there, but the night only reflected the beauty of the lights.
We do know that borders are necessary for the order of the world. It would be awkward at best not to know who to cheer for in the Olympics, let alone what could happen if you didn’t know which country’s traffic laws were applicable in any particular place.
But, for a moment, seeing all of these lights reminded me that, at our core, we are all humans designed to reflect the light of God, regardless of which side of a line we are on.
While in El Paso, we were hosted by Abara, a ministry that works tirelessly to show the humanity of all and the love of God at the border. In fact, their goal is “to inspire connections across divides.” (Check them out at abarafrontiers.org – They do incredible work.)
As we move into even more complex conversations about migrants, refugees, law and order at the border, the kind of clarity that brings sides together often only follows messy conversations and interactions.
My prayer is that we would begin seeing those on both sides of this divide as the lights that God created and work for the common good of humanity, and that instead of siding with whatever political system we adhere to, that we would seek to inspire connection rather than division.
Andy Myers has been in full-time ministry for over 25 years and has served as lead pastor, campus pastor, interim pastor, and also in student ministries.
He has also led 20 ministry teams to work alongside churches in Cambodia, Guatemala, and India. Andy has worked with a Christian Foster Care and Adoption agency championing the ministry to orphans in and around the State of Arizona. Andy also led a ministry in Phoenix called Flourish Now, a national organization serving underserved populations and under-resourced communities in employment through the power of the local church.
He has a passion for justice and helping churches partner together to lift up those in need in their communities and around the world.
Andy and his wife Stacey have lived in Casa Grande, Arizona, for nine years and have four children
